About Me

Friday, February 26, 2010

Sunday evening at Western Youth Corr. Inst. we will have a guest with us, his name is Joe English and he used to be Paul McCartneys drummer when he was with Wings.

We were asked if we could allow him some time during our regular scheduled service. Joe has a tremendous testimony and we are looking forward to meeting him and hearing his testimony, Joe works with Yokefellows but will be joining us this time.

We will still have teams going up to the lock up area where we will be allowed to minister one on one, those going into lock up have seen much fruit as in deliverance and salvations.

Tonight at SJS we ministered on the person of Jesus Christ. The biggest surprise was that a lot of the guys thought we are below the angels. We were able to show them that God loves us as His children, not just as His servants!

On Thursday evenings Kevin leads a team into the youth detention center to minister in small groups, they minister on many different subjects, many different life issues, and other things that concern them, while ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them one on one. This team bears much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

There have been a lot of life changes in the young boys there due to the volunteers being faithful but their team is very small and they could use some help. There is more opportunity to go into other buildings (other small groups) within the SJS compound as the team grows, so if you feel you may have something to offer the team as they minister to the youth there, please call the office or Kevin and we will make arrangements for you to become a part of this life changing team.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Kevin led us into the unit with 10 volunteers to minister to the young boys and girls, I think some of us were more ministered to than the residents, Kevin's report is just below this one.

After leaving the Youth Detention Center, we went to lunch together and then 5 of us went into Southern Pines to meet with several friends of the ministry who are in the same type of ministry themselves. We spent about an hour with them after which we prayed together and left for Tabor City with Perry and Dolly Shaw along with Lori Smith.

We arrived in Tabor City at 6:10 pm, checked in, and went directly into the service. We had a packed house as usual, this inmate church is growing so fast there is no room for those who want to come into the services and anyone who shows up a minute too late is usually turned away (we could use prayer for a larger chapel room) since their seating capacity is only 105, in a prison that houses 1,500 inmates.

There was a feeling of expectancy in the air and we were not disappointed. I had the job as MC for the evening, Lori gave a word of encouragement, Joy and Perry did a skit and then Perry gave a strong word (I have ministered with Perry for about 16 years and never saw him minister with this strong of an anointing on his message).

There were 6 salvation's and more hands up for re commitment than we could count, all in all, a great day.

It was a long day as we rolled into my driveway at midnight (Perry still had an hours drive ahead of him), but it was so worth it since we now have new family in the Kingdom as well as many more with new direction and commitment from and to our Lord Jesus. Praise God!

Please continue to pray for The Father's Heart (and the inmates we minister to), we need your prayer support as well as your financial support, we could have all the financial support in the world (we don't have much of that either) but it would be of little use without the prayers of people who love us, the ministry, and those who still need to hear about Jesus.

Today at Samarkand our team ministered in two services. The first was with the young men. We had ten come out which is double the numbers we have been having! We saw a lot of breakthrough in trust and openness today. Several volunteers shared testimonies and what was on their heart. The recurring theme seemed to be change. The effects of the today's service was obvious as some where fighting back tears while others where wanting to be hugged. (For those not familiar with ministering to males locked up, this was a very big deal!)

In the girl's service there were testimonies about being hurt and the need to forgive those who have hurt us. I was the main speaker and spoke on...you guessed it...what forgiveness is not! No one planned this, or knew what the others were planning to say! Another testimony to God's faithfulness!

Worship with the ladies at Camille Griffin Graham in Columbia, SC on Saturday night brought us all to the feet of Jesus! Bruce led the service, Martha led worship, and we heard powerful testimonies and encouragement from Brenda, Patricia, and Lynette. I delivered a prophetic message on the passionate love Jesus has, as Bridegroom King, for his Bride. The ladies were exhorted to come up higher in the Lord and seek this place as his cherished Bride. Almost all came for prayer to have this kind of intimate relationship with our Father God. I am keeping them up in prayer to continue to seek God in this way!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

A team is going to Samarkand Manor tomorrow in the morning, some of us will be leaving from there and going to Tabor City Correctional Inst. for tomorrow evenings service with Perry and Dolly Shaw and their ministry.

This will be an incredibly long day for five of us as we will be getting up around 5:00 am and getting home around 1:00 am Monday morning, please pray for both teams (Samarkand Manor and Tabor City) as we go.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Yesterday I went to Southern Correctional in Troy, NC to help with their dance ministry. They practice on Thursdays and it is an incredible blessing to watch them rehearse and also give some instruction. I have been teaching them a dance to the song, "Show Me Your Way." One of the ladies was getting released soon and she was so excited about doing the dance. She ran over to me at the end of practice and said, "dancing to that song made me feel alive again, thank you, thank you!" Another lady kept saying, "I love that song - I don't know why I like it so much."

One of the lines in the song is "the cry of my heart is to love you more." I replied that it's because that truly IS the cry of your heart and God knows that - He sees that cry of your heart and it is beautiful to him. I couldn't stop worshipping God driving home and all afternoon.

If you, or anyone you know. would like to help give this kind of instruction to the ladies at Southern, please contact me!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Last night our team went to Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center in Concord and ministered in the new building for the first time. Ceaser shared for a few minutes on his desire to get to know these guys and be someone they can count on to be there for them. Then Don ministered on Jesus the Hope of Glory. His example of which is better, getting riches while locked up or after you get out and comparing it to which is better, rewards in this life or in the life to come really opened up some of the students eyes to where our real hope should lie.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Tamara received the new dates today for Goodman Correctional Center for women in Columbia,SC.

This is a new unit for The Father's Heart ministries, we have been ministering there for many years under another ministry but the door has just opened for us to go in as The Father's Heart.

We have been praying about this door to be opened in God's time, not ours and we believe the time is now right.

The women there seem to be really open to the gospel and we have been received very well every time we go in there.

Chaplain Lewis seems to have built a church behind the walls and God is changing lives in this church, the women seem really excited to receive the Word of God and respond well to His leading, this makes us excited as well since we can now become a part of God's church behind the walls in this unit.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The Father's Heart Team was at Stonewall Jackson Training School tonight doing small group ministry. We were talking about what we are worth when a young man told me his mother tried to sell him for $1500 when he was young. When I explained to them that our value is determined by The price God was willing to pay for us, his eyes filled with tears.

Lots of snow and ice didn't keep 24 women from meeting to worship Jesus yesterday at Swannanoa Correctional Center, a minimum security women's prison in Black Mountain, NC. We go to this particular facility the first Sunday of each month, so it is a blessing to see familiar faces and how they are growing in the Lord. Team leader Perry Shaw brought Brenda Cathey, Lori Smith, Lisa Harvel and Martha Moore. Martha and Brenda ushered in the presence of God in song. Lisa shared a powerful testimony of God's healing from rape and abuse, and delivered a message to "press in and press on." The ladies were deeply ministered to, with more than half coming for personal prayer and ministry at the close of the service. We return next month on March 7.

We ministered on Thursday evening to the young men at Jacksion Training School. We had small group discusion on the return of Jesus Christ. What a great subject! The boys were very interested and ask many questions. Never forget , Jesus is coming again!

The Father's Heart team had another great service at Tabor City Correctional. Aprox. 95 inmates joined us even with the Super Bowl going on. Thanks Lee and Victoria for your ministry. We must repent of our sin not the consequences of our failure. When we are remorseful for the times we sinned and were successful, we are truly repentant. It was truly a blessing to see how enthusiastic the inmates were how they were touched by the message.

We had an awesome time ministering at the "New Covenant Church" yesterday morning, God showed up and we had a full alter, many repenting, many seeking direction and encouragment, Had a wonderful time of prayer afterwards that left us wanting more. The youth came up and we prayed for them as they are our next generation who will lead our country, prayed for the youth leaders, and for the individual needs of the people. They had a "Super Bowl Sunday" lunch afterwards where we were able to fellowship with most who were in the service. They have grown much (both in people and their new building) since the last time I was there and I am looking forward to going back soon. Blessings to all, Jim

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Please pray for our teams this week as Kevin leads a team tonight at 6:30 pm, into Stonewall Jackson Youth Academy (detention center) they will be ministering in small groups to the youth by Bible study and or sharing what God has laid on their hearts.

On Sunday Morning the 7th I will be ministering at New Covenant Church in Gastonia, NC, Tamara will be leading a team to Swannanoah Correctional Ctr. Sunday morning, and Don will be heading up a team Sunday evening at Tabor City Correctional Inst. Sunday evening. Monday the 8th Don will again be leading our team into Cabarrus Correctional Center. at 6:30 pm. Kevin will again have a team going back into Stonewall Jackson on Thursday evening the 11th at 6:30 pm. David Frankenfield taking a team into Cabarrus Correctional Center Saturday evening the 13th.

We also have mandatory training for our volunteers at Cabarrrus Correctional Center on Saturday the 6th, at Southern Correctional Inst. Monday the 8th, and Tabor City Correctional Inst. on Tuesday the 9th and Thursday the 11th.

We covet your prayers and support as we go into the places we are needed most.

Monday, February 1, 2010

At the very last minute (Actually 2 hours before service) we received a call telling us our team that was scheduled for the Monday night service canceled, thank God for dedicated people who are willing to fill in at the last minute (thank you Perry, Dolly and Lori). With Don, Victoria, and myself we made up a team of 6. God showed up greatly and showed Himself more than faithfull again.

We could not find anyone who was able (at the last minute) to come for some reason or the other to do music and or worship for us, most wanted to but were unable to but it turns out that God being who He is, worked it all out for His good. The men were greatly encouraged through their own, and our teams testimonies after which Perry brought a good word that stirred hearts. Needles to say, we had a great time and were encouraged ourselves.

Please help us pray for this camp as the inmate praise team was missing tonight we want them to be a part of our services when we come (They are very talented). I will try to find out what we need to do to help them become a part of our services as well as their own (inmates are allowed to do their own services from time to time at this camp), again please pray!

All in all it was a great evening, and as usual, we can't wait to go back.